//Day 7 /18-03-22 /Bratislava-Komarno

Today I arrived in the sleepy bordertown called Komarno on the border of Slovakia and Hungary. The city has a Slovakian and Hungarian part (split by the Danube), the Slovakian part is mostly know for casino’s and XXX clubs based upon the posters on display when arriving from the Hungary, where I spend most of my time today. 

This morning I left from Bratislava and crossed, after passing an area mainly consisting of apartments,  quite quickly the border with Hungary, when this happened was not directly clear to me (thank you Europe) except that when I wanted to buy food in a shop my euro’s were no longer accepted.

I followed the Hungarian part of the EuroVelo 6, away from the Danube, most of the time I rode beside somewhat bigger roads on Europe sponsored cycleways. The cycleways are not the only infrastructure that are  sponsored by Europe, I passed new roads, bridges, industrial area’s all with posters contains a number in Hungarian currency and a European flag. I’m pretty sure it ment that what ever has been build was sponsored by Europe. More the frustrating that a prick (yes prick) as Orban is in power based upon a nationalistic, homofobic and anti-European agenda but at the same time is  accepting European money. Let’s hope that on April 3rd the prick (yes prick) get voted away. At the same time of the elections there is a referendum, called by Orban’s party Fidesz, that would consider to ‘promote’ or ‘portray’ homosexuality to minors as an offence similar to Russian law. 

I may be biased, but I must say I did not encounter a happy looking Hungarian today. I tend to say hello a lot when I’m cycling, sometimes stop to try to start a conversation (knowing my Hungarian is non-existing and Flemish, English, French and Jean-Marie Pfaff German are not languages Hungarians learn at school) but today I did not get any response…..Well I did, best case people mumbled something and turned away. I have another 450 K to cycle in Hungary  so maybe social engagement will pick-up. 

The environment/surroundings/landscape was somewhat a mix. Most of the times it was farmland and small agricultural villages. In  these villages in best case there are some shops and the houses are okay-ish. But I also passed villages where men sitting on the porch of derelict houses drinking 50 cl lager cans (not sure where they obtain them).  Arriving at the Hungarian side of Komarno a new industrial area housed new factories, most impressive was the Hungarian SK Battery factory, owned by South Korean company, has cost around 700 million euros of which Hungary payed 70 million. 1 km further one an area with closed factories, derelict buildings….

In Komarno I stay in a room for 23 euros. Although the location and reception was “different”, the room (and internet) was/is great. The also serve food, unfortunately service stops at 17.00. Tomorrow I will be served a Slovakian Continental breakfast for 3 euros. 

Today I’m 1 week cycling. Myself and Black Horse doing fine.The family sounds to be ok. Tempus fugit. I will be arriving in Budapest tomorrow and will stay only one night as I have visited the city before and not in the mood to be stationary.

Lessons learned :

• I (and my bum) getting used to cycle 125 k. 
• The only open restaurant in Komarno, where people are not smoking or I would be the only customer, is an Italian restaurant. The only other option was to go the Casino Fresh doner kebap (yes a doner  kebap linked to a casino).
• It is difficult to explain the GPS function of a car over whatsapp. 

Song of today : I was dancing in a lesbian bar - Jonathan Richman.